Kentucky has seen its first staff change under Mark Pope, as assistant coach Jason Hart is leaving Lexington and accepting the associate head coach position at SMU, Bleed Blue Network insider Dylan Brake has learned.
Hart, who joined Pope’s staff in 2024, quickly became one of the most important pieces of Kentucky’s coaching staff. Prior to arriving in Lexington, Hart served as head coach of NBA G League Ignite and previously worked as an associate head coach at USC. He also spent nine seasons in the NBA after a standout career at Syracuse, bringing both high-level playing and coaching experience to Kentucky.
When Mark Pope hired Hart, he made it clear how highly he valued him, calling the addition a “no-brainer” and praising his ability to develop players and build relationships throughout basketball – both collegiately and professionally. Pope even noted at the time that Hart had drawn NBA interest before ultimately joining Kentucky.
Hart’s departure not only impact Kentucky’s coaching staff, but also recruiting: particularly with two major targets: Tyran Stokes and Dink Pate, Bleed Blue Network has learned.
Hart has played a major role in Kentucky’s pursuit of Tyran Stokes, the No. 1 player in the 2026 class. He made multiple trips to watch Stokes and has been one of Kentucky’s primary connections in that recruitment. Stokes even delivered a 52-point performance in front of him during one of those visits, showing just how involved Hart has been in the Wildcats’ push.
The situation with Dink Pate may be even more significant. Pate has a strong relationship with Hart dating back to their time together with NBA G League Ignite, and Kentucky has been considered the frontrunner largely because of that connection. Pate has even indicated Kentucky is a natural fit due to his familiarity with Hart and the system he runs.
With Jason Hart moving to SMU, Kentucky’s chances with both Stokes and Pate will likely take a significant hit, considering how important relationships are in modern recruiting While coaching turnover is common, losing Hart (who is arguably your best assistant) will be a notable change for Pope’s staff. His experience, recruiting ties, and player development ability made him one of the more valuable assistants on the roster.
As first reported by BigBlueDylan, Hart is expected to accept the associate head coach role at SMU, and Kentucky now appears headed toward its first staff adjustment under Mark Pope. Mark Pope will likely move quickly to fill the vacancy as Kentucky is focusing and preparing for the transfer portal to open in early April.
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